MNG2602/201/2/2022

Tutorial Letter 201/2/2022

Contemporary Management Issues

MNG2602

Semester 2

Department of Business Management

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
This tutorial letter contains important information
about your module.
 CONTENTS
Page
1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 3
2 MODEL ANSWERS – ASSIGNMENT 01 .................................................................. 3
3 CONCLUSION .......................................................................................................... 8

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 MNG2602/201

1 INTRODUCTION

Dear Student
This tutorial letter provides feedback on Assignment 01. Assignments and feedback
on them constitute a vital part of your learning and will assist you in preparing for the
examination.

2 MODEL ANSWERS – ASSIGNMENT 01

Question 1

Refer to the following individuals’ actions as described in the case study. State
which managerial role(s) that contribute to effective diversity management their
actions point to.
(3 marks)

1.1 Monitor ✓ AND Disseminator ✓

1.2 Spokesperson ✓

Reference: Textbook p 75.

Question 2

Identify and discuss the approach to diversity that Aspen follows. Also provide a
quotation from the case study to support your answer.
(3 marks)

Integrating diversity approach ✓

Diversity both inside and outside the organisation is acknowledged, and the
organisation adopts actions to address social expectations voluntarily. More sources
of diversity are involved and practices include, for example, a greater recruitment pool,
better communication, and diversity training. This approach leads to motivated
employees and a favourable organisation reputation. However, conflict may arise
between employees from different backgrounds. ✓

Quotations: any 1 ✓
"Work hard, play hard" policy
OR “During quiet periods, managers work on a flexible schedule.”
OR “Nearly 75% of staff work flexibly, either part-time, from home anywhere in the
country, using flexible start and finishing times, or a combination of all three.”

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OR “Aspen values diversity as part of building a strong brand and a dedicated
workforce, welcoming diversity as a part of creating a strong and innovative corporate
culture.”

Reference: Study guide p 36.

Question 3
(4 marks)

3.1 Name and discuss the corporate-level strategy Aspen implemented when
acquiring Fin Chemicals in 2004.
(2)
Backward vertical integration ✓
Vertical integration is a corporate-level strategy by which an organisation expands its
business operations either backwards or forwards. Backward vertical integration
implies that the company expands its operations backwards into a new industry that
produces inputs for its products. ✓

Reference: Textbook p 176.

3.2 Name and discuss the corporate-level strategy Aspen implemented in 2011.
(2)
International expansion ✓
To compete internationally – the organisation sells its products abroad and competes
in more than one national market. ✓

Reference: Textbook p 180.

Question 4
(5 marks)

4.1 Explain what a mission statement is. Elaborate by explaining how managers
must define the business (which questions they should ask).
(4)
A mission statement is a broad declaration of an organisation’s purpose; in other
words, what it seeks to achieve with its activities. It also explains to its employees and
customers what is unique or important in its products, ✓ and, finally, what distinguishes
the organisation from its competitors. ✓
To define the business, managers must ask themselves: (1) Who are our customers?
(2) What needs have to be satisfied? and (3) How are we satisfying customer needs?
✓

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Reference: Textbook p 161 and 167.

4.2 From the case study, state the mission statement of Aspen.
(1)
“to improve the health and quality of life of their patients” ✓

Reference: Textbook p 161.

Question 5

Discuss all the levels of organisational culture and provide examples of each from
the case study.
(9 marks)
Artefacts ✓
Visible aspects ✓
Open-door policy or informal ✓

Values and norms ✓

Standards ✓
A focus on innovation and creativity ✓
OR Give ownership to and inspire trust in employees – let them make most of the
decisions ✓

Assumptions ✓
Ingrained ✓
Family-orientated, flexible working hours, a diverse workforce ✓

Reference: Study guide p 59.

Question 6

List all the SDGs where Aspen believe they are able to have the greatest impact.
(2 marks)
SDG 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, and 17. ✓✓

Reference: Study guide p 20.

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Question 7

Consider the stakeholders that Aspen listed on page 19 to 22 under the heading
“Engaging with our stakeholders”. Classify each of the five external
stakeholders under either the general or the task environment.
Tip: Employees are from the organisation’s internal environment and should
therefore not be included in your answer.
(5 marks)
• Patients, HCPs and customers – task environment ✓
• Government, competition authorities, and pharmaceutical regulatory bodies
– general environment ✓
• Employees and collective labour organisations – not marked
• Suppliers, service providers, consultants and business partners – task
environment ✓
• Communities in which we operate – task environment ✓
• Contract manufacturing customers – task environment ✓

Reference: Textbook p 107.

Question 8

Consider the person who wrote the review on page 46 of Aspen’s IR.
(9 marks)
8.1 What level of management does he represent?
(1)
Top-level management / Top manager ✓

Reference: Textbook p 12.

8.2 Discuss the responsibilities of this level of management.

(3)
Any 3: ✓✓✓
Responsible for the performance of all departments
Cross-departmental responsibility
Establishing organisational goals

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Monitoring how well middle managers use resources

Responsible for the success or failure of an organisation

Reference: Textbook p 12.

8.3 Identify and discuss the two managerial functions (tasks) this type of
manager is mainly responsible for.
(4)
Planning ✓
Choosing appropriate organisational goals and courses of action to best achieve those
goals ✓
Organising ✓
Organising means structuring working (task and authority) relationships so that
organisational members interact and cooperate to achieve organisational goals. ✓

Reference: Textbook p 13.

8.4 Name the type of plans this manager will typically formulate.
(1)
Single-use plans ✓
OR Corporate-level plans ✓

Reference: Textbook p 163 and 165.

SUBTOTAL SECTION A: 40 MARKS

SECTION B: REFLECT ON YOUR LEARNING EXPERIENCE

5 MARKS
A total of 5 marks were awarded for the following:
• 3 marks for some reflection
• 1 mark for a list of references
• 1 mark for a signed declaration of authenticity (proving that this is your own
work). See the template in Addendum F of Tutorial Letter 101 or Addendum A
in TL102.

SUBTOTAL SECTION B: 5 MARKS

TOTAL ASSIGNMENT 01: 45 MARKS

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3 CONCLUSION

I trust that the guidelines given in this tutorial letter will assist you in evaluating your
answers to the questions in Assignment 01. The feedback on Assignment 02 will be
uploaded on myUnisa after the due date for the assignment in Tutorial Letter 202,
which will also include guidelines for the upcoming examination.

I wish you every success with the last assignment and your preparations for the
examination. You are welcome to contact me, should you encounter any problems
with the contents of this module.

Best regards,

Lynette Cronje
Lecturer: MNG2602